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Egypt's Siwa Fortress Seeks to Attract Ecotourists

Published November 19th, 2020 - 06:39 GMT

The Shali fortress which is located far away in Egypt's Western Desert, once was protected inhabitants against the incursions of wandering tribes. However, now it has became a source for ecotourists.

"Shali" means "home" in the local Siwi language, the fortess was created by Berber populations atop a hill in the pristine Siwa oasis, southwest of Cairo.

Moreover, the towering structure is made of kershef -- a mixture of clay, salt and rock which acts as a natural insulator in an area where the summer heat can be scorching.

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An Egyptian labouror works on the restoration of the fortress of Shali, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 5, 2020. The 13th century edifice, called Shali or "Home" in the Siwi language, was built by Berber populations, using kershef, a mixture of clay, salt and rock which acts as a natural insulator in an area where the summer heat can be scorching. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

An Egyptian labouror works on the restoration of the fortress of Shali, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 5, 2020. The 13th century edifice, called Shali or "Home" in the Siwi language, was built by Berber populations, using kershef, a mixture of clay, salt and rock which acts as a natural insulator in an area where the summer heat can be scorching. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

This picture shows a view of the recently restored fortress of Shali and its surroundings, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 6, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

This picture shows a view of the recently restored fortress of Shali and its surroundings, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 6, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Egyptian school children dressed in traditional outfits, walk with stilts during a celebration to mark the inauguration of the fortress of Shali following its restoration, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 6, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Egyptian school children dressed in traditional outfits, walk with stilts during a celebration to mark the inauguration of the fortress of Shali following its restoration, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 6, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

The 13th century edifice, called Shali or "Home" in the Siwi language, was built by Berber populations, using kershef, a mixture of clay, salt and rock which acts as a natural insulator in an area where the summer heat can be scorching. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

The 13th century edifice, called Shali or "Home" in the Siwi language, was built by Berber populations, using kershef, a mixture of clay, salt and rock which acts as a natural insulator in an area where the summer heat can be scorching. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Egyptian school children dressed in traditional outfits, gather during a celebration to mark the inauguration of the fortress of Shali following its restoration, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 6, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Egyptian school children dressed in traditional outfits, gather during a celebration to mark the inauguration of the fortress of Shali following its restoration, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 6, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

An Egyptian labouror works on the restoration of the fortress of Shali, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 5, 2020. The 13th century edifice, called Shali or "Home" in the Siwi language, was built by Berber populations, using kershef, a mixture of clay, salt and rock which acts as a natural insulator in an area where the summer heat can be scorching. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
This picture shows a view of the recently restored fortress of Shali and its surroundings, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 6, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Egyptian school children dressed in traditional outfits, walk with stilts during a celebration to mark the inauguration of the fortress of Shali following its restoration, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 6, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
The 13th century edifice, called Shali or "Home" in the Siwi language, was built by Berber populations, using kershef, a mixture of clay, salt and rock which acts as a natural insulator in an area where the summer heat can be scorching. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Egyptian school children dressed in traditional outfits, gather during a celebration to mark the inauguration of the fortress of Shali following its restoration, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 6, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
An Egyptian labouror works on the restoration of the fortress of Shali, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 5, 2020. The 13th century edifice, called Shali or "Home" in the Siwi language, was built by Berber populations, using kershef, a mixture of clay, salt and rock which acts as a natural insulator in an area where the summer heat can be scorching. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
An Egyptian labouror works on the restoration of the fortress of Shali, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 5, 2020. The 13th century edifice, called Shali or "Home" in the Siwi language, was built by Berber populations, using kershef, a mixture of clay, salt and rock which acts as a natural insulator in an area where the summer heat can be scorching. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
This picture shows a view of the recently restored fortress of Shali and its surroundings, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 6, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
This picture shows a view of the recently restored fortress of Shali and its surroundings, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 6, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Egyptian school children dressed in traditional outfits, walk with stilts during a celebration to mark the inauguration of the fortress of Shali following its restoration, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 6, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Egyptian school children dressed in traditional outfits, walk with stilts during a celebration to mark the inauguration of the fortress of Shali following its restoration, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 6, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
The 13th century edifice, called Shali or "Home" in the Siwi language, was built by Berber populations, using kershef, a mixture of clay, salt and rock which acts as a natural insulator in an area where the summer heat can be scorching. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
The 13th century edifice, called Shali or "Home" in the Siwi language, was built by Berber populations, using kershef, a mixture of clay, salt and rock which acts as a natural insulator in an area where the summer heat can be scorching. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Egyptian school children dressed in traditional outfits, gather during a celebration to mark the inauguration of the fortress of Shali following its restoration, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 6, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Egyptian school children dressed in traditional outfits, gather during a celebration to mark the inauguration of the fortress of Shali following its restoration, in the Egyptian desert oasis of Siwa, some 600 kms southwest of the capital Cairo, on November 6, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
After it was worn away by erosion, and then torrential rains in 1926, the European Union and Egyptian company Environmental Quality International (EQI) from 2018 sought to restore the building, at a cost of over $600,000. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

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